Recognizing WSIS Impacts

Unless it acknowledges key characteristics of the Internet, the World Summit on the Information Society will easily undermine it

WTDC Resolution 70


WTDC RESOLUTION 70 (Hyderabad, 2010)

Regional initiative for Central and Eastern Europe on “E-accessibility (Internet and digital television) for persons with disabilities”

The World Telecommunication Development Conference (Hyderabad, 2010),

  • considering
    • a) that access to the Internet and to television broadcasting service is difficult for persons with disabilities1, in particular those with visual and hearing impairments;
    • b) that assistive technologies (hardware and software) which provide value-added access services for persons with disabilities are already available on the market and are subject to further research and development;
    • c) that the switch-off of analogue terrestrial television within the European Union by 2012 represents both a challenge and an opportunity for enhanced access to digital television (DTV) services for persons with disabilities, in particular those with visual and hearing impairments,
  • noting
    • a) that Resolution 54 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of this conference encourages ICT applications and regional cooperation;
    • b) that Resolution 20 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of this conference establishes that access to ICT facilities and services should be of non-discriminatory nature;
    • c) that Resolution 50 (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) of this conference requires optimal integration of information and communication technologies,
  • further noting
    • a) Resolution 70 (Johannesburg, 2008) of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly relating to telecommunication/information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility for persons with disabilities;
    • b) Resolution 58 (Hyderabad, 2010) of this conference, on access to ICT for persons with disabilities, including persons with age-related disabilities,
  • recognizing
    • a) that the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) acts as a facilitator for regional cooperation in the deployment of value-added innovative interactive ICT applications by taking into account progress in ICT technology;
    • b) that ITU Member States are formulating relevant national and regional e-strategies and policies for the development of Internet and innovative interactive DTV applications,
  • resolves
    • 1 that ITU-D should, with extrabudgetary resources, initiate, implement and finalize a regional initiative project on “E-accessibility (Internet and DTV) for persons with disabilities” in Central and Eastern Europe;
    • 2 that the completion of this project should be no later than end of 2012,
  • invites Member States and Sector Members, in particular from the European region
    • to share and contribute their own experiences and resources for the introduction and deployment of innovative assistive technologies and services relevant to this regional initiative,
  • instructs the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau
    • 1 to implement a step-by-step approach, starting with the category of persons with visual and hearing impairments;
    • 2 to extend this initiative, as a second step, to other categories of persons with disabilities;
    • 3 to coordinate the activities under resolves above;
    • 4 to take all the necessary actions to resolve any problems that are encountered;
    • 5 to disseminate to the ITU community the results and lessons learned from the implementation of this regional initiative.

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